Lifetime and Current Predictors of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Among College Students

Abstract

Informed by previous research on non-suicidal self-injury, researchers in the current study sought to understand further the relationships between non-suicidal self-injury, self-esteem, anxiety, and biological sex among college students. Further, the researchers were interested in both current non-suicidal self-injury engagement and lifetime non-suicidal self-injury engagement, which could provide information on prevalence before and after commencing college. In order to examine the predictive relationships between lifetime non-suicidal self-injury engagement, current non-suicidal self-injury engagement, self-esteem, anxiety, and biological sex, participants completed several instruments assessing aforementioned variables. Results yielded that non-suicidal self-injury engagement rate was higher before commencing college. It was further found that while trait anxiety was a significant predictor for current non-suicidal self-injury occurrence, self-esteem was a significant predictor of lifetime non-suicidal self-injury occurrence. Concerning non-suicidal self-injury functions, affect regulation was the leading reason to engage in non-suicidal self-injury followed by self-punishment and anti-dissociation/marking distress.